Book One in the Awakening Desires series. From the moment the woman's portrait in the window of a coffee shop caught Cain Benjamin's attention, he resolved to possess not only it, but her as well. Determined to find the mysterious beauty, he sets out to locate the artist. If he can find the artist, he's sure he can find the woman in the picture. Katie Wallace's schedule at Coffee Breaks allows her to earn a living and still have time to pursue her love of painting. When her boss and friend convinces her to display one of her self-portraits in the shop window, she is apprehensive, but elated when it sells-until she meets the portrait owner. Katie finds herself captivated by Cain, the tall, mysterious man who lurks in the shadows and is obsessed with her self-portrait. And Cain is even more intrigued by Katie, as he discovers her painting is not nearly as sensual as the woman herself. Cain's mesmerizing and commanding personality entices Katie into the shadows with him. But Katie is equally determined to uses all her artistry to seduce him back into the light of day with her.

Most helpful customer reviews

From the moment the woman's portrait in the window of a coffee shop caught Cain Benjamin's attention, he resolved to possess not only it, but her as well. Determined to find the mysterious beauty, he sets out to locate the artist. If he can find the artist, he's sure he can find the woman in the picture.

Katie Wallace's schedule at Coffee Breaks allows her to earn a living and still have time to pursue her love of painting. When her boss and friend convinces her to display one of her self-portraits in the shop window, she is apprehensive, but elated when it sells--until she meets the portrait owner.

Katie finds herself captivated by Cain, the tall, mysterious man who lurks in the shadows and is obsessed with her self-portrait. And Cain is even more intrigued by Katie, as he discovers her painting is not nearly as sensual as the woman herself.

Cain's mesmerizing and commanding personality entices Katie into the shadows with him. But Katie is equally determined to uses all her artistry to seduce him back into the light of day with her.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

Amazon.com:
32 reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

An Okay Read That Had Great PotentialFeb. 20 2006

By
KMont
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Paperback
Verified Purchase

Three and a half stars goes to this very interesting story that almost hit the mark, but fell short in some ways. Having read the second book before this one (Awakening Desires: Erin's Fancy), and not finding it heart stoppingly great, I wasn't holding the first book in high hopes either. When I actually started reading "Katie's Art of Seduction" I was pleasantly surprised. The dark brooding atmospere, with the small ray of sunshine that is the heroine, drew me right in and I wanted to know the hero and heroine better. What started out very interestingly though tapered off to a mildly interesting story instead, hence the "okay" rating.

Katie Wallace is a sweet and reclusive artist working in a small coffe and pastry shop. With no family left, she depends a lot on her boss Lucas for familial support. Lucas displays a self-portrait of Katie in his shop window and it's not long before the shy artist's likeness is snatched up by an eager buyer. Cain Benjamin brings new meaning to the word reclusived and the dark brooding man is becoming more and more obsessed with the painting's subject. Determined to meet the woman in the painting, he follows Katie home one night from work. Part of the night, mysterious and dangerously cold at times, Cain nevertheless persues Katie with all the passion and emotion he feels capable of. But will his scarred past keep him from commiting to the beautiful and honest Katie, who has just as much at stake in their relationship? She's set on bringing Cain into the light with her, no matter the cost to her heart.

I loved this book in the beginning. It's very much a beauty and the beast type story. Cain's obvious pain and torment were heartbreaking to read about. I felt so much sympathy for his character, but also felt he couldn't have had it any better with a heroine like Katie. Passionate, caring and loyal, she's almost too good for the cold and detached man Cain often was. And that was the problem I ran into. I was waiting and waiting for Cain to quit being such a jerk at times, but he became so wrapped up in his pain and misery that he couldn't see what was right in front of him. Personally, I came to feel like he didn't deserve Katie, even after they reconciled. If you love dark brooding romances with sexy, but somewhat bent heros, pick up a copy and enjoy. I ended up disappointed in the hero though and it kind of ruined the rest of the book for me. I think the book may have been better, for me, if it had been longer and therefore given a better chance for the main characters to reach a more believable resolution. Three and a half stars for a wonderful heroine and very good first half.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Beauty and the Beast love storyMarch 5 2013

By
Cameogirl
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase

If I could give this story 3 1/2 stars instead of 3, I would have. This is basically a love story about a physically & mentally damaged guy who has pretty much stayed in the shadows due to his deformity. That doesn't stop him from getting what he wants - whether success in the financial world or his share of women. His main thing is not letting anyone close to him.

Well...along comes Katie who has become an object of his desire and lust due to a self-portrait of her that he purchased from the coffee shop she works in. Of course she becomes his current challenge to get her into bed. However, he hasn't ever encountered someone like Katie - she meets him head on in his sexual whims and desires but she is also a pure loving soul who sees past his deformity. She's not out to get anything from him except his love. In the first half of the story, I was a little taken aback by how easily Katie fell into his sexual wishes so soon and sudden. Cain came across a bit like a stalker, lurking in the night - but it was understood that he preferred the darkness of the night so he could hide his deformity. He also came across as hot and cold and it was puzzling to Katie.

Of course since he doesn't believe he is deserving of her love, he initially pushes her away with cruel and cold words. But credit has to be given to Katie - she didn't slink away or let his mean words push her away..initially. I kept thinking that if someone said those means things to me, I would have been gone in a flash. But because she didn't let his words push her away, he started to see the relationship in a different light. But of course his demons kept coming out and eventually it did accomplish in pushing her away.

The second half of the story was simply a realization. It takes a true love to take you out of the darkness and into the light...but only if you can see it in yourself that you are worthy of being loved. Love isn't easy - when you find that love you have to hold on. And that's what Cain comes to realize in the end. The book started off with light BDSM and turned into a deeper story of love.

One word "WOW" if you like the beauty and the beast concept, then this is for you. It got creepy, but I liked that for this particular story. This was a good read for me and I loved it, REALLY LOVED IT. It had a bit of bondage and it got spicy. Cain was a grumpy guy with money, but it worked for his character, he was mysterious and that was sexy for me with the way he approaches Katie because he was interested in her. I guess Cain is like that because of the way he grew up and I'm glad Katie did not give up on him. Katie was a sweet character, her approach to a weird guy following her was naive, but again, that was good for the story. The story worked well for me in a creepy, sexy, sweet and interesting sort of way. This was a story that lines up with my personal taste, so that's why I found it very much enjoyable. This concept done well, never gets old for me.

I have to start out saying I just did not like this book at ALL! Cain is a cave man who views Katie as nothing more than a sex object. Honestly it couldn't be any more literal, he sees a painting of her and falls instantly in lust and has to buy the painting. He is shallow to the point he won't let anyone see him because he has scars from a fire. Honestly there is nothing to like about the hero. Some of the things he says to Katie were enough to make me want to reach in the book and slap him, then turn around and slap her twice for taking it. There was some background given about the hero to "justify" his behavior but at a certain point it was just plain not justifiable. Everything in his life was seen in terms of buying and selling and that including Katie's body, i.e. he treated her like a whore. The sex is steamy, that just about the only positive thing I can say about this one. Sorry but I really disliked it and it left a really bad taste in my mouth.

Cain was just a jerk, and Katie had to just take his abuse, and with a smile in order for there to be any possibility that they could ever work out.

If you like books about disfigured, cruel, vendictive, emotionally retarded men this is for you. If not keep on looking.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

AwfulMarch 4 2013

By
Amazon Customer
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase

At first this book was OK. The author was a little wordy, and gave way too much description. But it wasn't too bad. I was interested even if I was flipping through the filler. But then the Mary Sue of a heroine became a titmouse. Literally TSTL. I don't want to spoil anything, but if you can have phone sex with a man, you can ask him about himself. Trust goes both ways.Aside from some of the stupid things that went on in this relationship, the hero had this way of blackmailing the heroine that I did not like. Also he's a poopyhead :PBut to sum up, the book is overwritten, and the main characters defy belief. Would not recommend.